By Guesly Dessieux
My family and I arrived back in Haiti on Monday, September 28. We were joined by one of the PLH board members and head of PLH construction, Bob Thatcher. Our hope was that the third container would arrive in Haiti prior to our arrival so we could unload it and set it on the building pad, but unfortunately, it did not. Bob spent his time digging out the drainage line for the Dessieux guest house septic tank, clearing the driveway up to the building pad, and doing lots of road repair. What caught both Bob and I by surprise was how overgrown the PLH property had gotten due to the significant rainfall during the raining season. Our staff was unable to pick up the Cub Cadet zero-turn mower which we had sent to Haiti and our push mower was broken. Sadly, none of the three fields were usable for soccer. What we were happy about is how well the erosion mats had worked to limit the erosion on the slopes around the property.
Sara, the kids, and I were very pleased with all the progress on the Dessieux guest house. When we arrived, two of the bosses were laying tile purchased in Haiti on the floor upstairs and the windows were being installed. My first week here, I spent time meeting with the PLH staff and going to Port-au-Prince to pick up the riding mower and purchase cabinets, a solar water heater, and more things for the guest house. The staff and I have also been working on the PLH property to address the fields and other areas of the property that were overgrown. Sara and I set up a Bible reading plan to do with the staff. We will read through the New Testament. I also plan to start the men's study, 33 The Series: Man and His Design.
Last Friday I had the opportunity to attend a championship soccer tournament which was put on by the community not related to PLH and not on the PLH property. Let just say I was uncomfortably surprised and pretty disturbed by what I saw. First of all, I’d always heard about people using voodoo and other mystical practices against their opponents in soccer games but I’d never seen it done myself. While I was standing on the sideline, I saw the two teams come in. The coaches from one of the teams walked out to the center of the field and then into both soccer goals multiple times, apparently casting spells as they spilled some liquid onto the ground from a yellow bucket. I was surprised to see it being done so openly. When the game started, I saw many people drinking alcohol, smoking, and behaving in godless fashion. Well, the team that had been using magic, started to lose a game and a major fight broke out. At that point, our operational manager and I decided it was time to leave.
I cannot begin to say how important it is to give youth a safe place to play where the teaching of the gospel is the primary focus. Sports provide us with the platform that we need to create disciples for Christ. Since its beginning, PLH has been using soccer to minister to youth. This year, we have developed a plan for a soccer academy which would allow for more discipleship, more focused attention and training, and hand-picked, contracted coaches. The academy will launch in November and will keep youth away from these unchristian practices and instead will provide them with positive Christian mentors. To change Haiti, we have to win hearts for Christ. I ask you to consider supporting the PLH soccer academy. We have soccer fields ready now and are eager to start that important ministry.
“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
